Dick Thornburgh made his first run for public office as a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress from Pittsburgh's heavily Democratic Fourteenth Congressional District. Despite hard work and solid research, Thornburgh lost to Democrat incumbent, William Moorhead. The documentation of this campaign is detailed and colorful and represents an earnest, issue oriented campaign from the pre TV/polling era. These files are in nine sections: Campaign Plans and Ephemera; Issues and Position Papers; Opposition Research; News Releases and Media; Campaign Volunteer Effort; Candidate Thornburgh's Files; Election Results; Campaign Finances; and Correspondence. Digital reproductions of portions of the collection are available
online.

Sponsor:

This finding aid is available on line as result of a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grant to the University of Pittsburgh and with collaboration of the Archives Service Center and the Digital Research Library.

This collection was processed by Nancy Watson, Curator of the Thornburgh Papers, Holly Mengel, Project Archivist, and a team of graduate students. Processing was made possible by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2002.

Processing Information:

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Holly Mengel in 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 3608599

Processing Information:

Copyright:

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Collection Inventory

Series V.Campaign for United States Congress, 1966

Scope and Content Notes:

"Because of the depleted state of the local party and my persistent inquisitiveness about how to improve the community and help solve its problems, party official approached me to run for mayor of Pittsburgh. And although I begged off at that time, I was nevertheless hooked on politics and did succumb to the 1966 congressional campaign" ("From Star Car to the Governor's Office,"
JFK School Bulletin, Fall, Winter, 1987).

And so it was in 1966, Thornburgh made his first run for public office as a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress from Pittsburgh's Fourteenth Congressional District, wholly contained within the City of Pittsburgh, and where Democrat registered voters outnumbered Republicans by over 3:1. Thornburgh faced running against William S. Moorhead, Jr., who was the four-year Democrat incumbent who had won election easily twice before. As stated in his book, "Ginny and I had no particular issues on which to challenge Moorhead and no illusions about our ability to win the seat. We knew, however, that we had to test our interest in running for public office" (
Evidence, p. 25).

This was a lonely endeavor at the start when news of Thornburgh for Congress, delivered to Pittsburgh's two newspapers, the
Post Gazette and
Press, merited small mentions, in one case not even mentioning Thornburgh's name in the headline: "Lawyer Seeking Moorhead Seat." Most of spring of 1966 was spent attending various Republican ward meetings and soliciting endorsements. On Primary Day, May 17, Thornburgh, in what he describes as a "smashing victory," corralled 78% of the meager Republican turnout, but as he further states "the greater challenge lay ahead" ("Evidence" draft, p. 106).

By Primary Day the campaign, now chaired by John Heinz, had come together quite well. Finances were handled smoothly and a group of volunteer supporters provided a strong research team. Briefing books were prepared on issues of importance, and ultimately a compendium of positions was put together including topics such as: hard line against organized crime and official corruption, concern for the elderly, urban problems, strong civil rights position, support for United Nations, conservative fiscal policies, transportation issues, job training, improved public education, and concern about Vietnam. It is notable that many, even most, of these topics of concern in 1966 recurred in Thornburgh's continued career and are well documented in the archives.

The General Election campaign included attending a three-day candidates' conference sponsored by the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. Of interest is that another "rookie" challenging a Democrat incumbent and attending this conference was President George H.W. Bush. The fall was busy with events and campaign appearances. Travel around the district was by what became known at the "Star Car," a clunker Rambler station wagon. There were three debates between Moorhead and Thornburgh, and Ginny Thornburgh energetically master-minded a dedicated volunteer organization. These were the times of door-to-door canvassing of voters, handing out emery boards and calorie counters with "Thornburgh for Congress," and billboards picturing Thornburgh holding a large wooden spoon entitled "Thornburgh Will Stir Things Up in Congress."

Despite all the hard work, solid research, and dedicated volunteer activity, ultimately Thornburgh lost to William Moorhead on Election Day, 82,732 to 38,528. As Thornburgh concludes in his book: "All, of course, was not for naught. Ginny and I discovered how much we actually enjoyed the campaign process - meeting and mingling with the voters, puzzling through our positions on difficult issues, and feeling that there was indeed a way to make a difference for the better in people's lives" (
Evidence, p. 30). Even the
Post Gazette noted "In Mr. Thornburgh the GOP has presented an exceptionally attractive candidate of the sort who should be encouraged to run for public office. While he did not pick the right office at the right time, we hope he will be encouraged to stay active in politics so that the public can avail itself of his services on another occasion" ("Evidence" draft, p. l14).

Researchers should take note that issue background material here relates and interconnects with other Pittsburgh and Allegheny County reports and articles in these other sections of the archive: "Civic Activities," "Politics," and "Constitutional Convention." These campaign archives are organized in nine sections: "Campaign Plans and Ephemera," "Issues and Position Papers," "Opposition Research," "News Releases and Media," "Campaign Volunteer Effort," "Candidate Thornburgh's Files," "Election Results," "Campaign Finances," and "Correspondence."

Subseries 1.Campaign Plans and Ephemera

Scope and Content Notes:

These files are arranged in five sections: GOP candidate information, campaign plans, campaign headquarters, Thornburgh for Congress, and campaign mailings. The "GOP candidate files" include materials on the '66 Democrat candidates, supplied by the Republican National Committee. "Campaign plans" include information gathered on voters, polling places and congressional districts. "Campaign headquarters" provides information on the headquarters opening, includes campaign correspondence and even the flower covered guest registry. "Thornburgh for Congress" includes materials that relate to the campaign kick-off and progression, as well as campaign ephemera. "Campaign mailings" consist of correspondence and mailings to and from the Thornburgh campaign headquarters.

Thornburgh address for Republican Nomination for U.S. Congress in the 14th Congressional District April 13, 1966

Section: Campaign Political Binder [New Material Added], 1966

Box 1010

Folder

41

Early campaign plans, January-February 1966

Folder

42

Campaign Expense Plan, January 1966

Folder

43

Campaign in Progress, January-October 1966

Folder

44

Volunteer canvasing, September 1966

Folder

45

American Institute for Research Plans, March-May 1966

Folder

46

American Institute for Research Plans: Survey, July 1966

Folder

47

Issue Poll Data, 1966

Folder

48

Issue Poll Research, 1966

Folder

49

Miscellaneous, 1966

Section: Ephemera

Box 22

Folder

22

Ephemera 1966

Folder

23

Ephemera 1966

Section: Campaign Mailings

Folder

24

Pittsburgh Letterheads 1966

Folder

25

Pittsburgh Letterheads 1966

Folder

26

Addresses for campaign mailings, form letters, correspondence 1966

Folder

27

GOP Mailings 1966

Subseries 2.Issues and position papers

Scope and Content Notes:

Thornburgh delivered twelve position papers on topics of concern to voters. In addition to the issued papers, and drafts, there are binders and folders of research materials designed for debate preparation and issue discussions. Several more folders were added to this subseries in July 2013.

Position Paper #3: Pittsburgh Can Solve its Transportation Problems October 18, 1966

Folder

8

Position Paper #4: A Better Way for Urban Renewal October 20, 1966

Folder

9

Position Paper #5: Education: Top Priority October 24, 1966

Folder

10

Position Paper #6: Vietnam as a Subject for Concern and Debate October 28, 1966

Folder

11

Position Paper #7: Civil Rights October 30, 1966

Folder

12

Position Paper #8: International Trade: When it Helps, When it Hurts October 31, 1966

Folder

13

Position Paper #9: Problems of Foreign Policy November 1, 1966

Folder

14

Position Paper #10: Economic Problems November 2, 1966

Folder

15

Position Paper #11: Poverty Programs Should Help the Poor, Not the Politicians November 3, 1966

Folder

16

Position Paper #12: Labor Problems November 4, 1966

Folder

17

Political and legal newsletters regarding the Thornburgh campaign 1966

Folder

18-19

Research Binder: Issues (annotated) 1966

Folder

20

Research Plans, Drafts and Memos 1966

Folder

21

Question and Answer Session (annotated) August 27, 1966

Folder

22

Neighborhood Youth Corps (annotated) 1966

Folder

23

Moorhead Debate 1966

Folder

24

The League of Women Voters Questionnaire (annotated) 1966

Folder

25

Scranton/Shafer Administration Accomplishments September 7, 1966

Section: [New Material Added]

Box 1010

Folder

12

Urban Renewal and Housing, 1966

Folder

13

Mainland China, 1966

Folder

14

Labor Management, 1966

Folder

15

Economy, 1966

Folder

16

Europe Foreign Policy, 1966

Folder

17

Education, 1966

Folder

18

Health Care, 1966

Folder

19

Water Pollution, 1966

Folder

20

Poverty, 1966

Folder

21

Foreign Policy, 1966

Folder

22

Foreign Policy: South America, 1966

Folder

23

International Trade/Balance of Payments, 1966

Folder

24

Aging, 1966

Subseries 3.Opposition research

Scope and Content Notes:

Thornburgh's team carefully researched the various candidates for Congress, including their campaign materials, particularly about Thornburgh's general election opponent, William Moorhead. Several more folders were added to this subseries in July 2013.

These items are arranged chronologically and cover the dates February 12, 1966 - November 7, 1966. These reflect campaign debates, personal appearances and endorsements and are available here online. The media files relate both to the Thornburgh campaign efforts to gain media coverage as well as collections of newspaper clippings regarding the campaign.

Box 23

Folder

30

Media Campaign (annotated) 1966

Folder

31

News Releases (annotated) February 12, 1966 - October 18, 1966

Folder

32

News Releases October 20, 1966 - 1967

Folder

33

News Releases (bound copy) 1966

Folder

34

Campaign Clips (annotated) 1965-1967

Subseries 5.Campaign volunteer effort

Scope and Content Notes:

Materials include individual volunteer instructional materials as well as extensive information reflecting the entire volunteer effort. Ginny Thornburgh was primarily responsible for this grassroots support and the files include her volunteer records and the binders that she created to track volunteer activities throughout the Fourteenth District. One of the sad moments associated with the campaign was a fire at campaign headquarters in the wee hours of the morning after Election Day. In the pouring rain the Thornburghs rushed there especially to rescue the volunteer files, only to find the gutter awash with their invaluable 3"x 5" cards.

These consist of items that Thornburgh kept close at hand during the campaign, and include his campaign and speech notes, and personal campaign files. As is typical for him, much of this material is handwritten and/or annotated and reflects his thinking as well as his actions as candidate.

Election results from both the Primary and the General Election are here. Also included is a report written about the unsuccessful Thornburgh campaign: "The Broken Spoon: a study in failure" by Jeffrey A. Ernico, a Pitt student and campaign volunteer. The title refers to the photograph widely used in Thornburgh campaign literature and billboards of Thornburgh standing next to a giant wooden spoon with the slogan "Dick Thornburgh will stir things up in Congress."

Box 24

Folder

13

Primary Election Results 1966

Folder

14

General Election Results 1966

Folder

15

"The Broken Spoon: A Study in Failure," by Jeffrey A. Ernico 1966

Subseries 8.Campaign finances

Scope and Content Notes:

The bulk of the materials here relates to the campaign budget and contributions and is arranged chronologically.

Box 24

Folder

16

Thornburgh for Congress Committee: Financial Matters (annotated) 1966

Folder

17

Contributions: Alphabetical Copies of Letters 1966

Folder

18

Lists of Contributors from Various Organizations (annotated) 1966

Folder

19

Form Letters Regarding Contributions 1966

Folder

20

Campaign Budget 1966

Subseries 9.Correspondence

Scope and Content Notes:

Correspondence in these folders, arranged chronologically, covers the campaign effort. The correspondence is separated as follows: pre-primary, post-primary, pre-election and post-election. Correspondence is to and from voters, peers, co-workers, and constituents.